Check-actuated control mechanisms – Including specific check passageway – Having means to divert spurious matter
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-18
2001-10-16
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3652)
Check-actuated control mechanisms
Including specific check passageway
Having means to divert spurious matter
C194S350000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302256
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a coin handling device for use in automatic vending machines, money changing machines, self-service machines and the like, which sorts and stores inserted coins according to their denomination, and dispenses the sorted and stored coins as change.
Automatic vending machines, money changing machines, self-service machines and similar facilities are conventionally fitted with a coin handling device, which sorts and stores inserted coins according to their denomination, and dispenses the sorted and stored coins as change.
Broadly speaking, this coin handling device comprises the following three sections.
The first section is the body of the device, which constitutes the casing of the coin handling device. At the very bottom of the body of the device is located a coin dispenser unit which serves to dispense change.
The second section is a coin storage unit, located directly above the coin dispenser unit and storing coins which have been sorted by denomination. The coin storage unit comprises a plurality of coin tubes, and is fitted to the body of the device in such a manner as to be capable of being attached and detached freely.
The third section is a coin sorting unit, which is located directly above the coin storage unit and serves to sort the inserted coins into authentic ones or counterfeit ones and sorts the authentic coins according to the denominations.
The coin sorting unit has a complex system of coin passages which serve to identify coins inserted through the coin insertion aperture as authentic or counterfeit, and to sorts the coins identified as authentic according to the denominations. In some parts of this complex system of coin passages is located a variety of coin-sorting machinery, including coin identification devices comprising oscillation coils and reception coils, a plurality of levers which serve to sort the coins into the prescribed coin passages, and solenoids which serve to drive them.
With a coin handling device structured in this manner, inserted coins first enter the coin sorting unit. Here, as they roll along the respective prescribed coin passages, they are identified as authentic or counterfeit, and the authentic coins are sorted by denomination. Counterfeit coins are channelled into a prescribed coin passage, while authentic coins are each sorted and guided into prescribed coin passages formed according to denomination. The authentic coins are then stored by denomination in the coin storage unit. When the denominations which constitute the required change are determined, coins which have been stored in the coin storage unit are selected according to the amount of change required, and dispensed through a coin dispensing unit located at the very bottom.
Within the casing which constitutes the body of the coin handling device are located various types of electronic equipment including a pay-out slide which dispenses the coins, a motor which drives the pay-out slide, and solenoid plungers. A problem exists here in that if, for instance, detergent or a similar viscous liquid drops down into the interior from the upper surface of the casing which constitutes the body of the device, this may penetrate the various members which constitute the coin handling device, adhering to the solenoids and other pieces of electronic equipment or the various pieces of driving machinery, causing them to malfunction and thereby impair the function of the coin handling device. A further problem is that when viscous liquid adhering to such machinery dries, it can act as a lock preventing the machinery from operating, and thus halt the function of the coin handling device altogether.
In the coin sorting unit in particular, due to the complex formation of coin passages within the body of the device and the fact that the coins roll along these coin passages, if soft drinks or detergent and similar liquids are allowed in, this liquid will also run along the coin passages and penetrate the interior of the device.
The fear is that if detergents and similar viscous liquids are allowed into the coin passages, they will adhere to the coin sorting levers and other sorting apparatus which is located in these coin passages, causing them to malfunction and impair the sorting function.
There is a further problem in that not only can viscous liquid adhering to the sorting apparatus dry and act as a lock preventing the sorting apparatus from operating, thus halting the function of the coin handling device, but it can also penetrate as far as the coin tubes where the authentic coins are stored after sorting by denomination. This may cause the electronic circuitry, motors and other electrical components located in that vicinity to be short-circuited and malfunction.
Numerous suggestions have been made for the provision of liquid discharging means at various points in a coin handling device.
However, it has proved especially difficult to eliminate liquid flowing along the cables which run into the coin handling device from outside, feeding signals and electric power to it.
The applicant of the present invention has previously proposed a method of preventing liquid from penetrating the coin passages formed within the coin handling device in Japanese Patent Publication 2-76092. According to the proposed coin handling device, liquid guide grooves are provided both on the main plate, where are formed both the coin insertion aperture and the coin passages which connect with the coin insertion aperture and lead roughly vertically downwards, and on the gate plate which serves to open and close the main plate. Liquid penetrating through the coin insertion aperture is swiftly discharged from the device with the aid of the liquid guide grooves together with a liquid collection unit which is provided downstream from the liquid guide grooves, and a liquid discharge passage which connects to the liquid collection unit.
However, even with the provision of liquid guide grooves on the main plate and on the gate plate, and the liquid collection unit downstream from them, the risk remains that large amounts of liquid entering through the coin insertion aperture may overflow from the liquid guide grooves and penetrate the body of the device.
Another risk is that when liquid guide grooves are formed on both the main plate and the gate plate, opening the two plates in order to return coins which have lodged between them may allow the coins to wedge between the liquid guide grooves formed respectively on the main plate and on the gate plate, thus making it impossible to return the coins.
It is therefore an object of the first invention to provide a coin handling device wherein liquid running down the cable and penetrating the interior of the device is swiftly discharged.
Moreover, it is an object of the second invention to provide a coin handling device wherein liquid entering through the coin insertion aperture is not allowed to flow into the body of the device.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The first invention is a coin handling device having at least a coin-sorting unit located within the body of the device, which constitutes its casing, and serving to sort inserted coins into authentic ones and counterfeit ones, characterised in that it is equipped with a cable which serves to feed various signals and electric power; and a cable guide hole, which is formed on the upper surface of the body of the device and into which the cable is inserted; being further equipped with liquid guiding means, the purpose of which is to guide into the body of the device any liquid dropping down the cable and through the cable guide hole; liquid storing means, which serves to store the guided liquid within the body of the device; and liquid discharging means, which serves to discharge the stored liquid from the body of the device.
In this manner it is possible to prevent, as far as is feasible, liquid dropping down along the cable and through the cable guide hole from adhering to the various components within the body of the device, thus providing a coin handling device which will functi
Iida Nobuyuki
Ito Yukio
Kikuchi Tetsuro
Nakajima Kenji
Yagi Masato
Hogan & Hatson, L.L.P.
Jaketic Bryan
Kabushiki Kaisha Nippon Conlux
Olszewski Robert P.
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